The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said there is a possibility of snowfall and rainfall between February 2 and February 5 in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Sikkim, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Assam and Nagaland.

Meanwhile, the 40-day harshest spell of winter known as “Chilla-i-Kalan” in Kashmir will end on January 31 but the cold wave will continue even after that with a 20-day-long 'Chilla-i-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day-long 'Chilla-i-Bachha' (baby cold). This is a period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley.

According to the IMD,  the minimum temperature is likely to rise by 3 to 5 degree Celsius over most parts of Northwest, Central, East  and Northeast India till February 3 and fall by 3 to 4 degree Celsius thereafter.

IMD said that fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall or snowfall over Western Himalayan Region during 2 to 4 February.  A feeble Western Disturbance is very likely to cause isolated rainfall/snowfall over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh till 01st February, 2022. 

“Another active Western Disturbance is very likely to affect Northwest India from February 2. An induced cyclonic circulation is likely to form over southwest Rajasthan and neighbourhood on February 3, 2022. In addition, moisture feeding from Arabian Sea to northwest India at lower and middle tropospheric levels is also very likely on February 2 and 3.  Another Western Disturbance likely to affect Western Himalayan Region from 06th February 6, An isolated hailstorm is likely over the region on February 3rd under the influence of a fresh active Western Disturbance and its induced cyclonic circulation,” the IMD said.

"Scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh during 2 and 4 February. Isolated hailstorm likely over Punjab, Haryana and northwest Uttar Pradesh on February 3," IMD said in a tweet.

"Scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal & Sikkim on 3rd & 4th and over Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on February 4 and 5, 2022," it added.

Parts of Rajasthan shivered on Sunday under cold wave conditions while Karauli was recorded as the coldest place with a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius, the IMD said. Chittorgarh was the second coldest as the minimum temperature there settled at 3.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Sangariya in Hanumangarh (3.5 degrees Celsius). Sikar, Bhilwara, Alwar, Dabok and Pilani recorded a low of 4, 5, 5.6, 6 and 6.4 degrees Celsius, it said.

The minimum temperature at most places in Kashmir went down and settled below the freezing point, even as IMD said there is a possibility of rain or snow at scattered places on Monday. A day after some improvement, the temperature decreased at most places in the Kashmir valley on Saturday night. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius down from minus 1 degrees Celsius the previous night, IMD said.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 7.4 degrees Celsius marginally up from minus 7.5 degrees Celsius the previous night. Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 7 degrees Celsius down from minus 2.8 degrees Celsius the previous night, they said.